Partitioned starting gate



Sept. 8, 1931. M, CASSIDY 1,822,080

PART I T I ONED S TART I NG GATE Filed Dec. 24, 1927 INVEN TOR. flaw/m1;61 357.01

BY mac;

' ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 8, 1931 PATENT OFFICE MARSHALL CASSIDY, OF SANDIEGO, CALIFORNIA PARTITIONED STARTING GATE Application filed December24, 1927. Serial No. 242,387.

My invention relates to starting gates for use on race tracks, moreparticularly to a starting gate which may be readily moved into and outof position and the objects of my invention are: First, to provide a.starting gate which may be readily and quickly moved from the racetrackafter the commencement of a race; second, to provide a starting gatewhich is divided into a plurality of partitions for accommodating therace horses when lined up in starting position; third, to provide astarting gate .in which individual starting positions are formed bynovel partitions supported from 1 an overhead structure; fourth, toprovide a rigid and mobile overhead structure for supporting partitionswhich is supported at one end on a motor truck and which is adapted toextend across the race track laterally o with respect to the motortruck; fifth, to provide a device of this character which is pivotallysupported at its one end on a motor truck and which automaticallyassumes a position in train rearward of the motor truck when the latteris driven forward; sixth, to provide a novel partition member which isadapted to be supported in position between adjacent race horses at thestarting gate and which presents a smooth and 3 rounded surface so as toprevent any injury to the horses in case the latter strike or rubagainst the partition members; seventh, to provide a partitign member ofthis character which extends substantially the length of the horse at alevel substantially with the horses flanks and which enables the jockeysto ascertain their starting position; and eighth, to provide as a wholea novel partitioned starting gate which is of light yet suflicientlyrigid structure which is economical of manufacture and which will notreadily deteriorate or get out of order.

With these and other objects in view as will appear hereinafter myinvention consists of certain novel features of construction,combination and arrangement of parts and portions as will be hereinafterdescribed in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims,reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the charactersof reference thereon which form a part of this application in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of my novel starting gate extendingacross a race track showing parts and portions thereof broken away; Fig.2 is an elevational view of my starting gate when in train position forbeing towed by the motor truck, a rear portion only of the latter beingshown in the drawings, certain portions of the gate being broken away;Fig. 3 is a side elevational View of the novel partitions and asectional view of the overhead structure along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2,portions of the suspension bars being broken away, and Fig. 4 is anenlarged sectional view along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 showing the generalcross-sectional form of the novel partitions.

Similar characters of-reference refer to similar parts and portionsthroughout the 6 several views of the drawings.

The motor truck 1, pivoted column 2, upright members 3 and 4, overheadstructure 5, carriages 6 and 7, partitions 8 and suspension rods 9, formthe principal parts and 7 portions of my device.

The overhead structure or arch 5 is preferably made in the form of alattice girder of a light and strong material, such as duralumin and isadapted to extend entirely across the race course. It is supported onthe motor truck 1 by means of the column 2 which is preferably rotatablymounted in the bearing 1a supported at the rear of the motor truck in avertical position. The extreme outer end of the arch 5 is supported bythe upright member 4 which may be in the form of lattice columns andwhich rests at its lower end on a carriage 6 having wheels 6a thecarriage being pivotally 0 mounted to the upright member 1 in anysuitable manner. A centrally positioned upright member 3 may be providedfor supporting the arch 5 midway between the extreme ends thereof. Theupright member 3 is also supported on a pivotally mounted carriage 7having wheels 7a. At suitably spaced intervals between the motor trueand the upright members 3 and 4 I provide partition members 8 which arepreferably supported by means of vertically extending suspension bars 9from the arch member 5. As illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, the partitionmember 8 is preferably of elongated cylindrical form of substantiallyelliptical crosssection, the ends thereof being carefully rounded off sothat all. corners and edges are avoided. At the rear end portion of themember 8 are provided upwardly extending spaced apart boss members 8a towhich are secured the vertical suspension rods 9. Said suspension rods 9are secured at their upper ends to the arch member 5 in any suitablemanner, such as by means of nuts 9a cooperating with a threaded portionof the bar 9 and collar 96 engaging transverse plates 5a secured to thearch member 5.

The member 8 is substantially the length of the race horse and it willbe noted that the forward portion 8?) extends considerably beyond theupright members 9. The object of this is to enable the jockeys and judgeto have an unobstructed view to either side of the partition members 8,the upright members 9 being positioned behind and to one side of theockeys when the latter are lined up. A The partition members adjacentthe central upright member 3 and the end upright member 4 may besupported by means of the arcuate rod members 10 which are secured inany suitable manner to the upright members 3 and 4t.

While the drawings illustrate an arch having a small number ofpartitions it is of course understood that the arch may be constructedof any width providing any number of partitions desired according to thewidth of the race track on which the device is to be used.

The arch member 5 is secured to the column 2 which forms the centralaxis of the arch. The latter is free to revolve around the column 2,.thecarriages 6 and 7 being pivotally mounted and adjust themselvesaccordingly.

At the commencement of a race the truck is positioned at the startingpoint on one side of the track and the arch is swung around laterally soas to be in position for properly alining the race horses which aredrawn up into position between the partitions 8 and as heretofore statedthe overhanging portion 8?) of the partition member extends down therace track. The height of the members 8 above the groundis substantiallylevel with the flanks of the horses and effectively prevent interferencebetween adjacent horses prior to the start of the race.

Immediately after the start of a race the truck is moved forward and thearch automatically swings over to a position rearward of the truck andthus is clear of the race track a few moments after the race hascommenced.

It is obvious as illustrated in the drawings and described in theforegoing specification that there is provided a device as aimed at andset forth in the objects of the invention and though I have shown anddescribed a particular construction, combination and arrangement I donot wish to be limited to this particular construction, combination andarrangement but desire to include in the scope of my invention theconstruction, combination and arrangement substantially as set forth inthe appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a starting gate, a trackless motor truck, a movable overheadsupporting means rotatably supported at its one end on said tracklessmotor truck and adapted to automatically move from a position extendinglaterally of the truck into a position in train rearwardly on said truckon forward movement thereof, and a plurality of partition membersrigidly suspended from said over-' head support whereby said entire gatemay be bodily removed from the race track. I

2. In a starting gate, a movable arch member, a stall partitioncomprising a single member of a substantially elongated, cylmdrical formhaving rounded end ortions and means narrower than said partitionsecured near the one end thereof for rigidly suspending said partitionmember from said arch member in laterally forwardly extending position,relative thereto.

3. In a starting gate, a movable arch member, a stall partitioncomprisin a single member of substantially elongate cylindrical forinhaving rounded end portions, a pair of closely spaced verticallyextending rods of a diameter smaller than the width of said partitionsecured at their lower ends to the rear end portion of said partitionmember and at their other ends to said arch member, said rods supportingsaid partition member in laterally, forwardly extending,

horizontal position relative to said arch member. I

4. In a starting gate, an overhead supporting means including an uprightcolumn member movably supported at its ends and member, said carriagesadapted to automatically assume a position in train behind said motortruck on forward movement thereof whereby said entire gate may be bodilyremoved from the race track.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at San Diego,California, this 13th day of December, 1927.

MARSHALL CASSIDY.

